Timothy McGee, Senior Field Agent, CTOC, looked around his soon-to-be old apartment, knowing this was the start of the next chapter of his life. No longer was he the most the junior member of a team, the gopher, the one who was always to blame. He looked at the email from Jenny Shepard still open on his email, the one he had forwarded to his parents, sister and grandparents. He was waiting for the phone to start ringing.

From: Jennifer Shepard, Director, Naval Criminal Investigative Service

To: Timothy McGee, Special Agent, Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Subject: Promotion and Reassignment.

Special Agent McGee,

NCIS is proud to convey upon you the position of Senior Field Agent, with Combating Transnational Organized Crime(CTOC), Mayport Naval Base, Jacksonville, Florida. Your new assignment will commence, effective immediately, 15th April 2008. Due to your promotion, your pay grade has been changed to reflect your new position, and you are now a GL 9. Congratulations on your new posting and position.

Tim, Special Agent Balboa was right in everything he said about you in my office. You are an outstanding agent and one of the most courteous men I have ever met. You are most likely wondering what the inter-agency reports are that he mentioned. These reports are compiled by Team Leaders and Senior Field Agents, and sent to agency directors to show inter-agency cooperation. While it would be inappropriate for me to comment on your fellow teammates, or allow you to see their reviews, I can show you yours. Attached are three different testimonials from other Agency personnel who wrote about you.

While I know you will thrive in Florida, I am sorry to be losing you from Washington. Just so you have something to aim for, I want you to think about your future career. In my opinion, there is no job you couldn't do if you put your mind to it. Qualifying as an Agent Afloat in your own time is no small thing. Tim, I want you to think about one day, not being Team Leader anywhere in the world, but in the future, being the Director of NCIS. Your dedication to your duties and this agency has not gone unnoticed and is appreciated.

Jenny,

Jennifer Shepard,

Director,

Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Tim was astonished once he had finished reading the email from his director. He had already read the emails detailing his former teams suspension, but decided not to dwell on it. He would not hold himself responsible for their actions. Everyone there was an adult and had worked for NCIS for years. He promised Balboa he would not feel guilty about that.

Ric had stayed with him at Bethesda as the trauma doctor and nurse cleaned and re-bandaged his wounds. They gave him clean gauze to reapply on several of the larger wounds which they wanted covered for a couple of days more. As they were on his chest, his could do this himself. The doctor, a Captain Mary Gregg, was not happy with McGee at all. And her feelings towards Ducky, well, Tim hoped Ducky was not in need of Bethesda anytime soon. She made these feelings perfectly clear.

"Whoever told a medical examiner he was a trauma doctor needs their head testing. I know Doctor Mallard was an Army Field Doctor in his previous career, that does not mean he should be doing my job. He cannot prescribe the antibiotics you need to stop the wounds getting infected, or give you the extra gauze and cleaning fluids needed for your treatments. I presume your director wants a full report?" Seeing Balboa and Tim both nod, "She is going to get one, believe me."

Tim had a feeling the Director would like this woman immensely.

"Agent McGee, you are free to go. Should these wounds become inflamed, itchy or start weeping, should you feel light headed, suffer any dizziness or nausea, you will call the hospital immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am, perfectly," Tim said, a little bit scared of this Navy Captain and doctor.

"Don't worry, Agent McGee, its your colleagues who have upset me not you. But if you don't follow my instructions, you will feel my wrath," she finished with a small smile. "Now go." Tim and Balboa practically raced out of Bethesda.

After dropping Balboa back at the Navy Yard, Tim returned home to let his parents know what was happening. When he read the email from Director Shepard, he decided to send that, rather than tell them himself. It was only right his parents were shown how much he was valued. He knew his dad was proud no matter what he did, but that there would always be a small part of him that regretted his son would never wear the uniform of the US Navy. His mom would probably print the email off and show everyone she could. His grandmother would worry over him being alone in a new city, even though Tim was alone when he was at university, both times, and when he was stationed in Norfolk. His sister would be gutted he was leaving Washington, but as the apartment was rented out for the next 9 months, he was hoping Sarah would move in in September. This way, she could have peace and quiet during her final year at Waverly College. If not, he would have to beg the landlord to let him out of the lease contract.

Tims eyes fell on the three reviews he had printed off. He was amazed these people had written specifically about him, especially in such glowing terms.

Inter-Agency Report- Army CID, Lt Colonel Hollis Mann.

**Redacted**

Special Agent McGee is an exceptional agent and investigator. His computer skills were of invaluable success in the resolution of this case. He was open and welcome to my presence at NCIS, helpful in learning my way around the building, as well the knowing the basics of the area, such as where to eat and to get a good cup of coffee. For most people these go ignored, but with Agent McGees assistance, I felt most welcome at NCIS.

As Special Agent McGee is a civilian, it is with deep regret that I cannot offer him a position on my team. Should I need the assistance of NCIS in the future, I will request Agent McGee for this assignment.

Tim had never known how the woman thought about him until now. For him, telling someone the best place to get a coffee and a sandwich was just normal for him, however, it seemed this may not be what normally happens during inter-agency investigations.

Inter-Agency Report- NSA, Special Agent Daniel Leyton.

**Redacted**

Having spent four days at NCIS HQ, Navy Yard, I feel that my superiors have failed the NSA. Special Agent McGee has a mind that surpassed my own, seeing the pattern in communication spikes between the terrorist cells that had not been noticed by more than a dozen NSA analysts. Should Agent McGee wish for a career change, I believe there would be opening here for him at anytime.

On a more personal note, I must thank Agent McGee for allowing me to stay at his apartment rather than driving for another hour to my home. He was very gracious in allowing me to borrow some clothes, as well as taking me to dinner, and getting breakfast. These little things helped me feel more at ease working at NCIS, and I look forward to working with Special Agent McGee in the future.

Tim had even stayed in touch with Daniel, and he had never told him about this. He couldn't wait to thank him for these words. It was the last one that really struck him, as he always thought the man did not like him.

Inter-Agency Report- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge, Tobias Fornell.

**Redacted**

Special Agent McGee is an outstanding credit to NCIS, and a source of personal frustration. I have never been more jealous of Special Agent Gibbs for having this young man as part of his team.

As well as being a skilled investigator, Agent McGees computer skills make him a maestro in the world of computers and the Internet. He showed dedication to his duty by working on the case after hours and at home. It was brought to my attention by Senior Field Agent Ronald Sacks that the search programs, both at the FBI and NCIS were not suited to the task Agent McGee required of them. In order to rectify this, Agent McGee wrote a brand new search program, installed it and ran it, and in doing so, helped solve our case.

I am not a computer expert, in fact, I can barely use one to write this report. However, according to Agent Sacks, the ability to write a program of the calibre that Agent McGee did, in the time that he did, makes him a savant, in the world of information technology. Most search programs are group efforts that can take weeks of tweaking to get it to work right. Agent McGee wrote a program that worked perfectly in less than ten hours.

Should Agent McGee decide to expand his experiences, he would be most welcome to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Tim had been recruited by the NSA and FBI while at college, solely for his computer skills. Now they still wanted him, but this time because he was a field agent, and he wasn't too modest to say it, and because he was a really nice guy. Lt Colonel Mann also wanted him, he knew, but the fact he wore a shirt and tie to work, rather than army fatigues, stopped this. But, it was nice to feel wanted.

Tims computer buzzed, letting him know the search was completed. Tim opened up the search and started smiling. He had started a search looking for two bedroom apartments within 15 miles of the naval base in Jacksonville. But, being McGee, he stated some pretty tough search parameters. He wanted a high rise building, preferably with his apartment being on the third floor at least, anything on the ground was too much of a security risk. He needed the building to have up to date security, as well as underground or secure parking. Tim McGee knew that his new role was going to increase his security clearance, and he knew that he would be an increased security risk everytime he left Naval grounds.

The apartments shown were in three separate buildings. One of the buildings was a no go straight away. It was on a road filled with bars, restaurants and three nightclubs. Even though he would be at least three floors up, he didn't want to risk the noise interfering with his sleep.

The second building showed promise. Four apartments were available above the third floor, all two bedrooms, large kitchen and living areas, secure parking, and even a balcony to give him some outside space. This building was on the edge of the search area, 14.8 miles away from the base. Tim flagged it as a definite possible.

The third building, Tim thought was a dream come true. An apartment was available on the sixth floor, the top floor, meaning no one above him making noise, unlike his current building. The apartment was a corner suite apartment, had two bedrooms, the master having an en-suite bathroom and walk in closet. It had a large kitchen diner, separate living area and a due to its location, one balcony off the living area, and a balcony off the master bedroom. The second bedroom would be perfect for when his parents or Sarah came to visit, as well as a home office, either for work or writing a new book. Tim thought that the ongoing adventures of LJ Tibbs would be no more.

Finding the phone number of the building manager in Florida, he called Balboa first.

"Balboa."

"Hey Ric, sorry to bother you," Tim started.

"The only time you'll be a bother, Tim, is when I'm hungover," Ric laughed.

"Got it, but I think I've found my dream apartment. Just wondered if NCIS need to check it out first?" Tim asked, knowing the security NCIS required of its agents.

"Providing it meets all the criteria for security, it shouldn't be a problem to get it now Tim," Balboa advised. "Just forward the details to myself and Director Shepard and we will let you know of any problems. Find any other apartments down there?

"Yeah, I'll email you the details."

"Cheers Tim, I hate moving," Balboa groused, dreading the thought of packing. Maybe he'd get some of his friends round to help and make it a bit of a leaving do.

"No worries, gotta go though. I really want this place."

"Go for it, let me know when you get it."

"Will do." Tim hung up on his new boss, and started dialling Florida, crossing his fingers he would get it.

Just to clarify for some people, Agent Cassidy has taken the lead for the murder case currently in progress only. Agent Burley will take control of the team once he arrives and Washington until the investigation is completed. Still undecided on the outcome of the investigation at the moment.